movies!

[rone]

I neglected to mention that, during our Napa trip, we stopped at Niebaum-Coppola, where the charge was $12 for tasting, so we passed, but it was still worth the visit, as the grounds and the inside of the mansion are beautiful.  And, yes, they have wine in a can.

So, that was about wine that tangentially related to movies... so now onto a movie where wine is a prime character.  Sideways is, perhaps, a bit overhyped these days, but it was still a really good story, with really good performances by all four main characters.  The movie seemed to gain in my mind the more i thought about it; Miles's episodes with the wine jug at Frass Canyon and at the hamburger joint at the end are as harrowing a case of self-injury as if he'd taken a blade and cut his arms.  I wonder, though, what exactly Maya saw in Miles; maybe that's the point?  I dunno.

The other movie we saw recently was The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.  Damn, that was funny.  Bill Murray does his understated Bill Murray thing, so if you're tired of that, or if you don't like Wes Anderson, this isn't the movie for you.  Otherwise, it's a boatload of silliness, stop-motion animation, quirky characters, pregnant Cate Blanchett, Tagalog, Portuguese David Bowie covers, and imaginary marine life.  Also, you get to see Bill Murray's and Jeff Goldblum's weiners.

Comments

[sagespot.livejournal.com]

I have heard that Niebaum-Coppola tastings are quite something! But I've seen photos of the grounds before and that must have been SUPER beautiful to see in person.

Glad you had a great trip!

[boutell.livejournal.com]

I've been trying REALLY HARD not to spoiler people with the Bowie thing, dude.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Hmm, was it that big a thing to you? Should i cut it?

[matrushkaka.livejournal.com]

$12 for tasting??! Jeez. You know it's free to taste wine in Europe?

I haven't done any wine tasting in the US, yet. Is it standard for US wineries to charge a fee?

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

It's almost standard in Napa these days. My memories of Paso Robles are fading, but i don't think we ran into it that often down there. Santa Cruz Mountains, same thing.... i know Bonny Doon is free and always has been and they pour many wines and the people there just plain frickin' rule and so does their wine and the drive there is beautiful.

The alternative is to go during festivals or "passport" weekends; places should have tastings for free then and without appointment. The downside is the crush of people. In Calistoga, the first weekend of May is a festival weekend.

I don't think it's unreasonable to charge up to $5 per tasting, say, four wines. And that $5 should come off any purchase you make. More than that... beh.

[matrushkaka.livejournal.com]

$5 would be doable, but it still irritates me - go anywhere in Spain, France, or Italy, and there aren't any fees.

[deirdremoon.livejournal.com]

How do you know those weren't stunt wieners?

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

You mean, like Steve Guttenberg in "Police Academy 2"?

[sunburn.livejournal.com]

A few years back, a married couple of coworkers went road-tripping and, being wine and film buffs, they stopped to visit and taste there. They are also cigar smokers on occasion, and knowing that I do the same, they bought for me a small pack of these great little cheroots sold there. Judging by the taste, they're wine-soaked -- a very pleasant if short smoke.

Hmm, I decided to check my facts, and found this (http://www.smokemag.com/0698/america.htm)-- I'm thinking I got the bourbon-flavored ones, hmm!